Fee-only financial advisors for 401(k) rollover decisions.
The 401(k) rollover decision at job change or retirement is a one-time, high-stakes choice. Rollover to an IRA opens the investment universe, enables Roth conversions, and unlocks the Backdoor Roth pathway. Leaving money in the old 401(k) may preserve loan access, ERISA protection, or age-55 rule withdrawal. Rolling to a new employer's plan may sim
What our matched specialists handle
- I just changed jobs with $850K in my old 401(k) — rollover or leave?
- Retiring at 62 with $1.6M in 401(k) — best rollover strategy to set up retirement distributions?
- My new 401(k) has terrible funds — rollover the old one to IRA, or consolidate?
- Age-55 rule — does rolling out give it up?
- Backdoor Roth complications if I roll pre-tax into IRA
- Employer stock in my 401(k) — NUA strategy?
Tools & guides
401(k) Rollover Decision Calculator
Model the tax & fee differences between leaving your old 401(k), rolling to IRA, rolling to new 401(k), or taking partial Roth conversion.
NUA Calculator: Employer Stock Strategy
Hold highly appreciated employer stock? Model whether the Net Unrealized Appreciation strategy beats rolling to an IRA — in today's dollars.
Rule of 55: Penalty-Free Withdrawals Before 59½
Leaving your job at 55 or older? The age-55 exception lets you tap your 401(k) without penalty — but rolling to an IRA first forfeits it permanently.
Complete 401(k) Rollover Guide
Detailed framework — rules, tradeoffs, employer- and account-specific nuances, common mistakes.
Backdoor Roth and the Pro-Rata Trap
Rolling pre-tax 401(k) money to an IRA can permanently break your Backdoor Roth. Learn the three ways to protect it — including the reverse rollover.
Direct Rollover vs. Indirect Rollover: The 20% Withholding Trap
Indirect rollovers trigger mandatory 20% federal withholding and a 60-day clock. Learn why a direct rollover is almost always the right choice — and what to do if you already received a check.
In-Service Rollover: Roll Your 401(k) to an IRA While Still Working
If your plan allows it and you're 59½+, you can roll to an IRA without leaving your job — opening Roth conversions, better funds, and lower fees up to 13 years before RMDs hit.
401(k) Loan When You Leave a Job: The Offset Rollover Strategy
Leaving a job with an outstanding 401(k) loan? The plan offsets the balance against your account — but you may have until October 15 of next year to roll it over and avoid the taxes and 10% penalty.
Convert Your 401(k) to a Roth IRA: Tax Cost Calculator
Every dollar of a traditional 401(k) converted to a Roth IRA is ordinary income. Use our 2026 bracket calculator to find your exact conversion cost — and identify the income-gap windows where converting at 15–22% beats your normal 32–35% rate.
After-Tax 401(k) Rollover: The Mega Backdoor Roth
Beyond the $24,500 deferral limit, the IRS allows up to $72,000 in total 401(k) contributions. If your plan permits after-tax contributions, you can roll that extra money directly to a Roth IRA tax-free under IRS Notice 2014-54 — sheltering an additional $30,000–$47,000 per year.
Inherited 401(k) Rollover Rules: Spouse vs. Non-Spouse Beneficiary
Surviving spouses can roll an inherited 401(k) into their own IRA and defer RMDs for decades. Non-spouse beneficiaries cannot — they must transfer to an inherited IRA and follow the 10-year rule. Understand the annual RMD requirement that applies when the decedent was already taking distributions.
Should I Roll Over My 401(k)? A Decision Framework
Six questions that identify the hidden factors in your rollover decision: Rule of 55, employer stock NUA, Backdoor Roth pro-rata trap, outstanding loan, fee comparison, and in-service eligibility. Includes a comparison table of all four options and three real-dollar scenarios.
Roth 401(k) Rollover to Roth IRA: Split Rollover and the Five-Year Clock
Rolling a Roth 401(k) to a Roth IRA has two hidden traps: employer contributions are pre-tax and need a split rollover, and the five-year qualified distribution clock may reset. Post-SECURE 2.0 RMD changes also affect your timeline.
SEPP 72(t) Calculator: Penalty-Free Distributions Before 59½
If you need income from retirement accounts before 59½ and don't qualify for the Rule of 55, Substantially Equal Periodic Payments (SEPP) may be your only option. Calculate your payment under the Fixed Amortization and RMD methods — and understand the modification trap.
7 Costly 401(k) Rollover Mistakes to Avoid
The indirect rollover withholding trap, the Backdoor Roth pro-rata disaster, forfeiting the Rule of 55, ignoring NUA on employer stock, missing a loan offset deadline, cashing out, and the Roth split error — with real-dollar examples of what each mistake actually costs.
How to Roll Over Your 401(k) to a Traditional IRA: Step-by-Step
The most common rollover path — and it's completely tax-free when done right. Pre-rollover checklist, exact paperwork, processing timelines, what to do if you received a check by mistake, and five situations where the standard path is the wrong one.
Consolidating Multiple Old 401(k) Accounts: When to Roll, When to Keep
Changed jobs multiple times? Each old employer 401(k) has different fees, features, and rules. Learn when to consolidate vs. keep separate, how to find forgotten accounts, and the right order of operations — including why a 1% fee gap costs $224,000 over 25 years on a $200K balance.
403(b) Rollover to IRA: TIAA Surrender Charges, ERISA Status, and the 15-Year Catch-Up
Teachers, nurses, and hospital workers face three 403(b)-specific traps on rollover: TIAA's 2.5% surrender charge on lump-sum transfers, loss of unlimited ERISA creditor protection for government and church workers, and forfeiture of the 15-year special catch-up contribution. Includes step-by-step execution and three real scenarios.
457(b) Rollover to IRA: Government vs. Non-Profit Rules
Government employees can roll a 457(b) to an IRA — but doing so before age 59½ eliminates the plan's biggest advantage: penalty-free withdrawals at any age. Non-profit executive plans can't roll to an IRA at all. Understand the governmental vs. non-governmental split before you initiate.
Is a 401(k) Rollover Taxable? 2026 Tax Rules Explained
Most 401(k) rollovers are completely tax-free — but three situations trigger a tax bill. Traditional-to-traditional is always tax-free. Converting to Roth is taxable by design. And an indirect rollover that goes wrong creates an accidental tax event. Plus: state taxes, Form 1099-R codes, and the IRMAA cliff.
SIMPLE IRA Rollover: The 2-Year Rule and the 25% Penalty Trap
Small-business employees with SIMPLE IRAs face a rule that 401(k) holders don't: you cannot roll to a traditional IRA or 401(k) during the first two years of participation. Do it early and the penalty is 25% — not 10%. Complete guide to timing, rollover destinations, and three real scenarios.
TSP Rollover to IRA: Should Federal Employees Leave the G Fund Behind?
The Thrift Savings Plan's G Fund earns 4.5% (May 2026) with zero duration risk — a combination no IRA can replicate. Rolling to an IRA also permanently forfeits the Rule of 55 for anyone under 59½. This guide explains what you're trading and when a TSP rollover actually makes sense.
QDRO 401(k) Rollover: Divorce, Split Options & the Penalty-Free Exception
Divorcing spouses who receive a 401(k) via QDRO can take cash at any age with no 10% penalty — but that exception disappears the moment the money moves to an IRA. Understand the four options, the Roth 5-year clock reset, and how to sequence a partial cash withdrawal plus rollover.
Solo 401(k) Rollover: Termination Rules, Mega Backdoor Window & Where to Roll
Shutting down your solo 401(k)? Whether you're taking a W-2 job, retiring, or hiring your first employee, there's a specific sequence to follow — including a limited-time mega backdoor Roth opportunity before you close the plan and a final Form 5500-EZ if your balance ever exceeded $250,000.
401(k) Rollover to Annuity: QLAC, SPIA & Guaranteed Income (2026)
Roll your 401(k) directly into an annuity tax-free — no 20% withholding, no 60-day clock. A QLAC defers RMDs on up to $210,000 until age 85. A SPIA converts a lump sum into guaranteed income immediately. Includes the IRMAA deferral math, irrevocability trade-offs, and three real scenarios where partial annuitization does — and doesn't — make sense.
Where to Roll Over Your 401(k): Fidelity vs. Vanguard vs. Schwab (2026)
Once you've decided to roll to an IRA, the next question is where. Expense ratios on Fidelity ZERO funds (0.00%), Vanguard VTI (0.03%), and Schwab SWTSX (0.03%) all converge at near-zero — the real differences are platform features, banking integration, and advisor access. Plus: the creditor protection advantage of rollover assets that most people don't know about.
Reverse Rollover: Move Your IRA Back Into a 401(k)
Most rollovers go from 401(k) to IRA — but sometimes the right move is the other direction. A reverse rollover clears pre-tax IRA balances to restore a clean Backdoor Roth, unlocks a 401(k) loan you can't get from an IRA, defers RMDs past 73 under the still-working exception, upgrades to ERISA creditor protection, or recaptures the Rule of 55 window before you leave your employer.
401(k) Rollover at Retirement: Timing, Roth Conversions & IRMAA Planning
Retiring with a 401(k) is a different decision than changing jobs. The years between your last paycheck and when Social Security and RMDs begin are often your lowest-income decade — a window to convert pre-tax assets to Roth at 12–22% instead of 22–32% later. Learn how to sequence the rollover, manage the $109K IRMAA Medicare cliff, and reduce your RMD burden through pre-75 conversions. Three real scenarios: age 58, 62, and 65.
Roth Conversion Ladder: Penalty-Free 401(k) Access Before 59½
Roll your 401(k) to a traditional IRA, convert a portion to Roth each year, and after 5 years withdraw those converted amounts penalty-free — no fixed payment schedule, no modification trap. The Roth conversion ladder gives early retirees flexible access to their savings from age 45 to 59½. Includes bridge strategy, bracket-filling math, IRMAA management, and three real scenarios.
Pension Lump-Sum Rollover to IRA: Tradeoffs, Tax Rules & Decision Framework
Offered a lump sum instead of your defined benefit pension? The PBGC guarantees only $7,789.77/month in 2026 — benefits above that cap are uninsured if your company fails. A direct rollover to an IRA eliminates counterparty risk and opens Roth conversion flexibility. Includes break-even analysis, survivor benefit tradeoffs, and three real scenarios at ages 58, 62, and 65.
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401(k) Rollover Advisor Match is a matching service. We connect you with vetted fee-only financial advisors in our network — we don't manage money or provide advice ourselves. Advisors in our network are fiduciaries who charge transparent fees (not product commissions), and we match you based on your specific situation.